PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Remuneration

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will estimate the number of individuals in his (a) Department, (b) related agencies and (c) related non- departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000 and (ii) £200,000 in each of the last four years.

Robin Cook: None.

Members Salaries

Matthew Taylor: To ask the President of the Council what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference between the final voted departmental expenditure limit and provisional outturn for financial year 2000–01, as listed in the Treasury document, Public Expenditure 2000–01: Provisional Outturn, for Vote XIII, subsection 4 House of Commons: Members' Salaries; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: The figure included in "Public Expenditure 2000–01" was a misprint. Full details of outturn against 2000–01 provision will be published in the appropriation accounts to be presented to the House by 31 January.

People's Peers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council when the House of Lords Appointments Commission will invite applications for the second round of appointments of people's peers.

Robin Cook: The decision rests with the Prime Minister. The membership of the House of Lords, including that of non-party political peers, is kept under on-going review.

People's Peers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council whether further applications from previously unsuccessful applicants for a people's peerage will be invited; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: I understand that all unsuccessful applicants were informed that they could renominate themselves, should they choose to do so. Their existing nomination is not carried forward, but there is nothing to stop someone reapplying.

House of Lords Appointments Commission

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council what recent steps the House of Lords Appointments Commission has taken to encourage more applications from under-represented groups.

Robin Cook: I understand that the report which the House of Lords Appointments Commission published alongside its first list of names in April 2001 made clear that they wanted to encourage more high-quality nominations from women, and from other regions of the country outside of the south-east. The commission has also made clear that its wishes to continue receiving outstanding nominations from ethnic minorities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Serious Sexual Crimes (Sentences)

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward measures to increase the severity of sentences of people convicted of serious sexual crimes.

Keith Bradley: Under the broad review of sentencing that began in July 2001, we are looking at tougher determinate sentences for sex offenders that will ensure they stay in prison, up to the full term if necessary, so long as they continue to present a risk of harm to our communities and that they are subject to strict and extended supervision on release. We are also looking at a requirement that where a life sentence is an option judges should not shy away from using it if the professional evidence shows that there is a clear risk that the offender will commit further sex offences. We want greater clarity and transparency, with indeterminate sentences given to serious offenders where appropriate.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the civil service code since 13 May 1999, and how many of them related to special advisers.

David Blunkett: holding answer 9 January 2002
	In line with section 11 of the code, there are arrangements in place which allow civil servants in the main Home Office and its agencies to raise any matter of concern in confidence with their line managers, in the first instance, or thereafter with one of several nominated officials. It is not possible to provide a figure for the number of these complaints as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre those which are resolved within the management line, nor is a central record kept of complaints raised direct with nominated officials.

Fraud

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate possible connections between fraud and a north London mosque which has been identified to him; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Any information provided to me or my Department on alleged criminal activity—including information passed to me by my hon. Friend—is shared with the police, who are continuing to investigate. I have corresponded with my hon. Friend on the issues raised.

Workplace Drug Testing

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the value of workplace drug testing for (a) alcohol, (b) cannabis, (c) heroin, (d) amphetamine and (e) cocaine among civil servants.

Bob Ainsworth: The Home Office Drug Strategy Directorate is currently developing, with partners, a strategy for tackling the issue of drug misuse in the workplace. One of the proposed outcomes is the production of definitive guidance to employers, in all sectors, of best practice in managing drug issues in workplace settings. The strategy will aim to include a balanced view on the comparative worth of drug testing as a tool for employers, and cover each of the drugs specified in the question. The current intention is to publish the guidance during the financial year 2002–03 and make it widely available.

NCIS and NCS Authorities

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in appointing the chair of the service authorities for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad.

David Blunkett: I have appointed Mr. David Lock to be the Chair of the Service Authorities from 1 April 2002.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Zimbabwe

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has for addressing the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: There are acute shortages of food and other basic supplies in Zimbabwe as a result of misgovernment. During the last six months DFID has provided £4 million in essential drug supplies, and £4 million for non-governmental supplementary feeding programmes—targeting vulnerable children in particular. The UN has now developed a humanitarian assistance programme to help an estimated one million people. I have agreed to provide a further £6 million for this programme, supporting World Food Programme feeding activities, and helping the World Health Organisation to maintain essential medical supplies. In all of these programmes, special consideration has been given to delivery mechanisms to ensure that those in need benefit regardless of their tribal or political affiliations.

HEALTH

MMR Vaccine

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the annual cost of giving individual injections in place of the MMR vaccine; what the time interval required between such individual injections would be; and what estimate he has made of the vulnerability of children to particular diseases within the time gaps;
	(2)  how many representations he has received from (a) members of the medical profession and (b) members of the public about the policy of the NHS in providing MMR as opposed to individual injections.

Yvette Cooper: Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines in place of MMR have never been recommended by the Government's independent expert advisory committees on immunisation. As a result, no estimates have been made of the cost of giving separate vaccines. Cost is not an issue in decisions over MMR immunisation.
	We are not aware of any studies that have looked at the relative merits of possible time gaps between separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. The researcher who first put this suggestion forward has stated that a gap of "at least a year" should be left between each vaccine. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this suggestion.
	The risk to an individual child of contracting one or more of the diseases MMR protects against as a result of having separate vaccines rather than MMR will vary in different parts of the country. The risk will increase the longer a child is left unprotected. The unborn child of a pregnant women who is not immune to rubella will also be at increased risk from disease should the pregnant woman come into contact with an unimmunised individual.
	There have been several hundred representations from members of the public about MMR. It is not possible to say how many are from the medical profession. The British Medical Association and the Royal Colleges who represent members of medical positions support our policy on MMR.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the gross costs of the regulatory impact assessment for (a) the Restriction on Pithing Regulations 2001, (b) the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001, (c) the Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001 and (d) the Gelatine (Intra- Community Trade) (England) Regulations 2001.

Yvette Cooper: These costs are shown in the published regulatory impact assessments which are available in the Library.

Contaminated Blood Products

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Haemophilia Society; and what action he plans to take in respect of people who have contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products.

Yvette Cooper: Officials met with the Haemophilia Society on 30 November 2001. Issues discussed included the Society's 'Carpet of Lilies' campaign, the CJD Incident Panel's consultation document "Management of possible exposure to CJD through medical procedures" (issued on 10 October 2001) and the role of primary care trusts in commissioning haemophilia services.
	A special payment scheme (The Macfarlane Trust) for those infected with HIV through national health service blood products was set up in 1988. We have also set up a multi-disciplinary steering group to assist in the development of a strategic approach to hepatitis C as a public health issue. As a result, we will be publishing a consultation paper early this year.

Haemophilia Drugs

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many UK-resident patients over the age of 16 are being treated with rcFVIII.

Yvette Cooper: The latest information from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation shows that 43 per cent. of patients aged 20 and over in the United Kingdom are receiving recombinant clotting factors.
	All health authorities and national health service trusts in England have been asked to provide recombinant (synthetic) clotting factors for new haemophilia patients and children under 16. We are giving careful consideration to the case for providing recombinant clotting factors for all haemophilia patients in England.

Chief Medical Officer Annual Report

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) total costs and (b) design and printing costs were involved in producing the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health 2001.

John Hutton: The total cost for producing the Chief Medical Officer's annual report for 2001 was £74,506. Of this cost £17,863 was spent on printing and £56,643 was spent on the design, development and production of the report.

TREASURY

Uncollected Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what are the latest estimated levels of uncollected (a) income tax and (b) other taxes (i) in cash terms, (ii) current values and (iii) as a percentage for each year since 1997–98;
	(2)  how much tax remained uncollected at the end of each fiscal year since 1978–79.

Andrew Smith: Figures for amounts of assessed and collectible tax as at the end of each accounting year (31 October) are available in the Inland Revenue's annual reports for years up to October 1998, in Table 1 of Appendix 1.
	The figures for uncollected tax represent net tax charged but not paid as at the accounting date, and are a snapshot of the position at the date of the account. Most of the tax uncollected at the balance of each account is subsequently collected, and most of the amount outstanding attracts an interest charge.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the performance of Government departments against their Public Service Agreement targets.

Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in response to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 502.

Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the years 1997–98 to 2003–04 a detailed reconciliation between the public expenditure planning total and general Government expenditure.

Andrew Smith: The information sought can be found in tables 1.1 and 1.13 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2001–02, HM Treasury Cm 5101, April 2001. Those tables give spending details for the years 1998–99 to 2003–04. Data for 1997–98 are not available on the same basis because of switch to resource accounting and budgeting. The tables show the reconciliation between total departmental expenditure limits, and total managed expenditure.

Social Security Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the planned social security expenditure as a percentage of GDP in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04, (d) 2004–05 and (e) 2005–06.

Andrew Smith: The planned total social security expenditure, excluding tax credits, as a percentage of GDP is:
	(a) 2001–02: 11.1 per cent.
	(b) 2002–03: 11.0 per cent.
	(c) 2003–04: 11.0 per cent.
	The Government have not yet published social security spending figures beyond 2003–04.

Taxes

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the tax burden as a percentage of gross domestic product, using total taxes and social security contributions on an individual accounts accruals basis for each tax year from 2001–02 to 2006–07.

Andrew Smith: The available estimates of net taxes and social security contributions as a percentage of GDP are shown in Table B9, p. 175, of the November 2001 pre-Budget report.

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the Comprehensive Spending Review and its impact on levels of public infrastructure investment.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers receive a wide range of representations about public spending issues. These will be considered as part of the 2002 Spending Review.

Capital Receipts

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the capital receipts initiative for the next three years.

Andrew Smith: Capital receipts released from the disposal of surplus assets can be invested back into public services. Table B18 in the pre-Budget report 2001 sets out annual projections for sales of fixed assets up to 2003–04.

Non-North Sea Tax Receipts

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the percentage of gross domestic product which will be accounted for by non-North Sea taxes and national insurance contributions in each of the next five years.

Andrew Smith: Estimates of non-North Sea taxes and national insurance contributions as a percentage of GDP can be derived from Table B9, p. 175, of the November 2001 pre-Budget report.

Education Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the planned education expenditure as a percentage of GDP in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 776W.

Hospital Repairs

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if expenditure on hospital repairs is classified by his Department as current or capital expenditure.

Andrew Smith: Expenditure on hospital repairs is classified as current expenditure in national accounts, and as resource expenditure in departmental budgets.
	A major enhancement to a hospital that extended its working life or added new facilities would be classified as capital expenditure. Decisions on the classification of activities on the borderline between repairs and major enhancements would be made by a hospital's accountants and subsequently audited in terms of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) applied by the accountancy profession. The decision of the accountants would follow through into national accounts and departmental budgets.

Government Trading Funds

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the financial performance of Government trading funds in each of the last four years.

Andrew Smith: Information on the financial performance of Government trading funds can be found in the annual reports and accounts prepared and published by each trading fund.

Public Expenditure (Scotland)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to conduct a thorough needs assessment in order to determine the appropriate level of central Government support for public expenditure in Scotland.

Andrew Smith: The Government's policy on devolved funding, including the Barnett formula, is set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, published by the Treasury in July 2000.

Capital Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown by Department of the estimated capital expenditure under the Private Finance Initiative in 2001–02.

Andrew Smith: Detailed figures setting out estimates of capital investment by the private sector in support of PFI deals (both signed and those at preferred bidder) and estimated payments made by Government under PFI contracts are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report each year. Tables C16 and C17 of Budget 2001 include the latest projections of capital expenditure by the private sector under the Private Finance Initiative, broken down by Department, for 2001–02. In line with past practice, I expect to update these figures shortly.

Departmental Reports

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 2002 departmental reports to be published.

Andrew Smith: The 2002 departmental reports are expected to be published in April 2002.

Public Sector Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effective annualised increase in public sector pay for those workers covered by the pay review bodies in each of the last four years.

Andrew Smith: I estimate the average cost of the annual pay settlements, from 1 April each year, as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998 3.9 
			 1999 4.1 
			 2000 3.7 
			 2001 4.0 
		
	
	The figure for 1998 is the full year cost. The first year cost was 2.7 per cent., reflecting the staged implementation of the recommendations of the pay review bodies that year.

National Asset Register

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list central Government disposals from the National Asset Register in each of the last four years specifying the value of each disposal.

Andrew Smith: The National Asset Register provides details of all significant disposals of central Government assets by Department for each of the financial years 1997–98 to 1999–2000.

Government Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the amount in 2001–02 prices accounted for by general Government expenditure on services from 1979–80 to 2001–02 was, broken down by the current classification of sponsor Department.

Andrew Smith: Information about total managed expenditure on services by broad activity of spending, from 1984–85 to 2000–01, is published in table 3.3 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2001–02 (Cm 5101) and is presented in 1999–2000 prices.
	Information about spending broken down by Department is published in tables 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9 of PESA 2001–02.
	A breakdown of spending from 1979–80 to 2001–02 in 2001–02 prices, by current classification of sponsor Department, is not readily available.

Asset Sales

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the local authority, central Government and public corporation components of sales of public sector land and buildings in each of the last five years.

Andrew Smith: Information about the sale of central and local government land and buildings, from 1995–96 to 2000–01, is published in table 3.8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101). Equivalent information for public corporations is not readily available.

Access to Work Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what goods and services provided by the access to work scheme are considered to be a taxable benefit; whether the receipt of digital hearing aids funded through the Department of Work and Pensions access to work scheme can be considered a taxable benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Goods and services of whatever nature provided to an employee by reason of the employment are exempt from charge if supplied in order to carry out the duties of the employment and any private use is not significant.

HIPC Debt Initiatives

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the staff report on the implementation of the HIPC debt initiatives referred to on page 5 of his joint statement of 16 November 2001 with the Secretary of State for International Development at the Ottawa meeting of the World bank and IMF.

Andrew Smith: The report of the World bank and IMF Development Committee on the status of the implementation of the HIPC Initiative is available on the World bank website at http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/ Status_of_Implem_english.pdf.

PRIME MINISTER

Charities

David Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the report on charities and the voluntary sector commissioned from the Performance and Innovation Unit.

Tony Blair: The Performance and Innovation Unit's review on charities and the voluntary sector is expected to be completed by the spring.

Ministerial Visits

David Lidington: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visits to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Tony Blair: I visited Bangladesh, India and Pakistan from 3–7 January. I had discussions with the leaders of all three countries, and a series of other meetings aimed at further strengthening our bilateral relations. The visit also provided an opportunity for me to discuss key regional issues.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Sub-post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 650W, on sub-post offices, if she will list (a) the initiatives that received payments from the sub-post office start-up capital scheme in 2001–02, with the funding received in each case and (b) those that applied but did not receive funding.

Douglas Alexander: To date, there have been over 500 requests for further information about the sub-post office start-up subsidy scheme and 118 of these have generated requests for application forms of which 18 have so far been returned. Five applications for support under the scheme have now been approved and other applications are under consideration. One payment of £13,200 has been made in respect of an initiative at Capel-le-Ferne in Kent. No applications have been rejected.

Consignia

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Consignia's proposed job cuts.

Douglas Alexander: Consignia's intention to make the cost savings it has announced is an operational issue for the company which is consulting with the unions on the matter. The company has not informed the Government of specific plans of how it intends to achieve these savings.

Consignia

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) employees and (b) managers there are in each business unit of Consignia, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin.

Douglas Alexander: Consignia is responsible for the number and location of its employees. I am advised by the company that the information sought is not available in the format requested.

Consignia

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of (a) the annual value of Benefits Agency business to Consignia which will be lost as a result of the introduction of automated credit transfer and (b) the expected revenue to be gained by Consignia through the operation of the Universal bank.

Douglas Alexander: The current value of Benefits Agency business to Consignia is some £400 million a year. The migration of benefit payments to ACT is scheduled to begin in 2003. How that migration affects the revenue of Consignia and the post office network will depend on a number of factors, not least how benefit recipients and other post office customers respond to change.

Consignia

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used by Consignia to determine whether a post office is facing unavoidable closure; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Consignia define an unavoidable closure of a post office as one where no one suitable is prepared to take over from the departing sub-postmaster, where no suitable premises remain available or can be identified or where an associated retail business is no longer commercially viable.

Broadband Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to introduce legislation on improving access to broadband telecommunications networks in rural and semi-rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government's strategy was outlined in a written answer to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan) on 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 757W, and I refer the hon. Member to that response.

Broadband Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the (a) availability and (b) take-up of broadband services by (i) individuals and (ii) businesses in the constituency of Congleton.

Douglas Alexander: A map showing availability of broadband services in the UK was contained in "UK Online: the Broadband Future" and has been placed in the Libraries of the House, though there have not been any assessments made of coverage by constituency.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Food Imports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the roles of (a) her Department, (b) the Food Standards Agency, (c) local authorities, (d) port health authorities and (e) other relevant public agencies, in the control of food imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 November 2001
	The Department is the central competent authority for animal health policy as it affects veterinary checks on the import of products of animal origin from third countries. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for public health policy and food enforcement activity by all local authorities including port health authorities. Local authorities and port health authorities (where one exists) are responsible for the enforcement of controls at point of import. Local authorities also have responsibility for health controls at all subsequent points in the human food chain. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Department are responsible for ensuring that any product of animal origin presented for import is not released until the health controls at point of import have been completed satisfactorily.

Food Imports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Treasury on how to improve co-ordination of controls on food imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 December 2001
	Departmental officials are leading an inter-departmental review aimed at co-ordinating action across government to ensure that rules on imports of products of animal origin are enforced effectively and efficiently. In carrying out this task they meet regularly with colleagues in the Treasury, other Government Departments and responsible enforcement authorities.

Food Imports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls the Government have to prevent (a) unsafe and (b) inferior food imports; and what plans she has to tighten those controls.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 December 2001
	All consignments of products of animal origin imported into the UK from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in various Council directives. Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in this legislation. Among other things, this legislation sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in meat, fish and milk processing plants.
	All products of animal origin imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and a proportion are subject to physical checks. The level of physical checks is laid down in Community legislation and depends on a number of risk factors. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in satisfactory condition during transport. In line with Community rules, random spot checks at destination may be carried out on consignments of animal products imported from other EU member states.
	The Government take very seriously the need to have effective controls on imports of animal products and we in DEFRA are co-ordinating action across government to ensure that the rules are enforced as effectively as possible.
	Controls on the importation of food products for human use which are not of animal origin, such as fruit, vegetables and cereals, from countries outside the EU are not harmonised at EU level. Imports of such food must meet the food hygiene requirements in Great Britain's Imported Food Regulations 1997 and their equivalent in Northern Ireland for which the Food Standards Agency is responsible. These Regulations require that imported food meets the same food safety standards as apply to food produced in the UK. The UK's local food authorities, who undertake day-to-day enforcement at air and sea ports, can refuse entry to or arrange destruction of foods that do not meet the UK's requirements. Such food imported from both third countries and other EU member states may be inspected at retail level to ensure that it satisfies requirements under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Animal Health Bill

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will consult on the exercise of slaughter powers and other provisions of the Animal Health Bill.

Elliot Morley: I am pleased to announce that the Government are today issuing a paper for public consultation. This proposes criteria that will govern the use in England and Wales of the new slaughter powers contained in the Animal Health Bill, together with arrangements for operating the adjusted compensation scheme for infected premises.
	This document has been sent to around 200 organisations, although any interested parties are welcome to access it on DEFRA's website http:// www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/current.htm and respond. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Farms, Buckingham

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many organic farmers are registered in the constituency of Buckingham.

Elliot Morley: This information is currently unavailable but a database is currently being developed which will allow interrogation of statistics to county level.

Parish and Town Councils

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategy her Department is adopting to provide support and encouragement to parish and town councils to maximise their effectiveness.

Alun Michael: The Government believe strongly in the role and potential of town and parish councils to act as community leaders in their area.
	Our strategy to help parish and town councils develop a new role and give communities the opportunity to shape their future is set out in the Rural White Paper, published in November 2000. We have made considerable progress in putting in place measures to help local councils develop their potential to lead and invigorate their communities, including (over three years): £15 million for Community Service Grants to help projects to maintain or introduce services which are local priorities; £15 million for Parish Transport Grants scheme for small scale projects to meet local needs; a further £5 million to help up to 1,000 parishes draw up their own town or village plans to set out local needs and aspirations. The Countryside Agency and the National Association of Local Councils have published a national training and support strategy for parish and town councils, towards which we have allocated £2 million. In November we published a consultation paper on putting the Quality Parish and Town Council concept into practice. This sets out our detailed proposals for enhancing the role of local councils, giving their communities a better deal on local services and a stronger voice in the decisions that affect peoples lives.
	The National Association of Local Councils is now represented on the Rural Affairs Forum for England, which I chair, and which met for the first time on Wednesday 9 January.

Parish and Town Councils

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent Countryside Agency publication which denoted parish and town councils according to their level of activity.

Alun Michael: The publication to which my hon. Friend refers is a Countryside Agency working document made available in the Library of the House pursuant to my answer of 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 1018W, on rural parishes. It is part of the agency's work to monitor over time the state of the countryside and was the source of summary figures on "community vibrancy" that the agency published last April to form a baseline for reporting in future years. "Community vibrancy" is one of 15 Headline Rural Indicators identified to monitor progress in achieving the objectives we set in the Rural White Paper. Our aim is to see the indicator move in the right direction over time.

Foxes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the state of the fox population following the cessation of hunting as part of foot and mouth eradication.

Alun Michael: There is no information which could provide the basis for an answer to this question.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms were subject to contingency culls undertaken in each county area during the foot and mouth disease epidemic; and what percentage these culls represent of all culls.

Elliot Morley: During the foot and mouth outbreak in Great Britain, animals from 2,026 infected premises, 7,494 dangerous contacts premises (of which 3,329 were contiguous premises) and 257 slaughter on suspicion premises, have been slaughtered. No other farms have been designated for culling.
	A breakdown of the animals slaughtered by county, by species and by premises type is available on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk
	Source:
	DEFRA Disease Control System database as at 9 January 2002.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will inform hon. Members when the independent inquiry into the lessons to be learned from the foot and mouth epidemic has begun its work.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 735W.

Departmental Employment Policy

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the number and (b) the process of selection of (i) former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials and (ii) former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions officials now working in her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: When DEFRA was created on 8 June 2001, all staff working in MAFF and the staff working on environmental protection and wildlife and countryside in DETR transferred to the new Department. As at 1 November 2001, there were 8,157 staff in core DEFRA and 5,952 staff in DEFRA agencies, making a total of 14,109 staff. Of the 8,157 staff in core DEFRA, 635 came from DETR and 7,522 came from former MAFF or joined DEFRA as new employees since 8 June.

Hunting

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what are the conditions with which (a) hunt organisers and (b) hunt followers must comply following approval of recommencement of hunting in England; and what is the purpose of each condition.

Alun Michael: This answer should be read against the background to the arrangements which I set out fully in an answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 905W, for allowing the controlled resumption of hunting.
	A permit for hunting with dogs in foot and mouth disease free counties is issued to the hunt organisers and contains the following conditions which they must observe:
	The date, time and location of each hunt meet, together with details of the likely area to be covered by the hunt and the likely number of participants, must be notified by fax, e-mail or in writing to the local DEFRA Animal Health Divisional Office, so as to be received at least two complete working days before the day of each meet;
	A permanent record is maintained by the hunt master, chairman or other responsible person as any of them may designate until at least six months after the expiry of the validity of the permit of the date and location of every hunt, and of any unusual incidents occurring during the hunt, and that this record is made available on demand to an inspector;
	All necessary precautions are taken to avoid any possibility of incursions in the course of the hunt by participants or by any dogs or horse into an at risk or high risk county or onto premises subject to Form A or D restrictions or any like restrictions imposed under Article 38 of the Foot and Mouth Disease Order and that the hunt is planned to take place in an area that will avoid the likelihood of any such incursions;
	Best endeavours are used to encourage spectators to follow the progress of the hunt from public roads or from footpaths or bridleways which are not subject to FMD restrictions;
	No dogs are used in the hunt if within the past 56 days they have been kennelled or fed at premises which receive or collect fallen stock from premises outside the county in which the hunt takes place or from an adjoining FMD free county;
	Prior to hunting every participant has signed and dated a certificate of compliance with these conditions in the form required by DEFRA in respect of himself and any horse, quad bike, bicycle or other vehicle which he proposes to be used in the hunt and this certificate has been passed to the hunt chairman, master or other responsible person for the retention for at least six months after the expiry of the permit and that all such certificates shall be made available on demand to an inspector;
	A certificate of compliance for each hunt in the form required by DEFRA is delivered to the Divisional Veterinary Manager at the local DEFRA Animal Health Divisional Office not later than three working days after the day of the hunt.
	In addition, the following conditions apply to hunt participants.
	No person shall: participate in a hunt authorised by a permit:
	(i) if their main dwelling is not in an FMD free county; or
	(ii) if they have visited any relevant premises situated in an at risk county or a high risk county in the period of seven days prior to the hunt.
	Use any dog or horse in a hunt unless it has been kept for at least the preceding 30 days exclusively at premises in the county where the hunt is to take place or at premises in an adjoining county which is also a FMD free county.
	Use a vehicle to transport horse or dogs for the purpose of a hunt, where that vehicle has previously been used to transport cattle, sheep, goats or other ruminating animals, pigs or deer unless it has been thoroughly cleansed and disinfected in accordance with schedule 2 of the foot and Mouth Disease Order and any other requirements applying in relation to such transportation since the last occasion on which it was so used.
	Participate in a hunt authorised by a permit unless they are wearing clean outer clothing and footwear, and cleanse and disinfect the outer surfaces of their footwear before and after the hunt.
	Use any bicycle, quad bike, or other vehicle in a hunt authorised by a permit unless the same has been thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before and after the hunt.
	These conditions are designed to manage the disease control risks associated with hunting with dogs and to implement the recommendations of the veterinary risk assessment into these activities. Some conditions are necessary to ensure the efficient administration of the permit scheme.
	Full details of the temporary system of permits for hunting with dogs, including the veterinary risk assessment, applications forms and certificates of compliance are available on the DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk/.

Farm Subsidies

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list by county the amounts paid to farmers in England and Wales for the last five years for each of the (a) CAP and (b) UK schemes for which she is responsible.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 November 2001
	The information requested is not currently held in this format.

Agricultural Subsidies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of agricultural producer support in (a) the EU, (b) the UK and (c) England is met by (i) direct subsidy, (ii) price support, (iii) import charges, (iv) export refunds and (v) intervention.

Elliot Morley: The OECD produces annual estimates of agricultural producer support in OECD countries, called Producer Support Estimate (PSE). Their most recent provisional estimate for the EU shows that in 2000 about 40 per cent. of agricultural producer support is derived from direct subsidies. The remainder of the producer support is a result of market support measures (import charges, export refunds and intervention) and it is not possible to estimate the effect of these measures separately.
	My latest estimates for the UK for 2000 indicate that about 45 per cent. of UK agricultural producer support is a result of direct subsidies, with the remainder resulting from CAP market support measures. The estimates for England are similar to the UK figure.

Parliamentary Questions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the written questions of the hon. Member for Vale of York tabled on 29 November, Refs. 20777, 20778, 20779 and 20780.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 11 December 2001, Official Report, columns 850–51W, and 8 January 2002, Official Report, columns 738–39W.

Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Northavon of (a) 3 April, her reference 153878, (b) 3 May, her reference 155624, (c) 14 June, her reference 156587, (d) 8 May on the 20 day standstill for livestock movements, our ref GWY/LH, (e) 4 May on behalf of Mrs. Thomas, (f) 4 May on behalf of Mr. Barton, (g) 26 June on behalf of Mr. Weaver and (h) 23 July on behalf of Mrs. Summers.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 October 2001
	All of the above letters have been responded to with the exception of the letter of 23 July of which we unfortunately have no record.

Meat Foodstuffs

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the European Commission's directive on the definition of meat and meat foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The new definition establishes a common basis for declaring meat content of products within the European Community and will provide consumers with more transparent and consistent information about the meat products they buy.
	The Food Standards Agency consulted the main stakeholders twice during the negotiation of the Commission directive. Although the new definition is more restrictive than the existing one in the United Kingdom, it is not intended that it should change current manufacturing practices of meat products. Some technical amendments will be required to the UK's Meat Products and Spreadable Fish Products Regulations, which lay down reserved descriptions and a minimum meat content in certain products such as sausages and burgers, to take account of the new definition. A consultation process on these amendments has already begun, and amended regulations will be prepared this year.

Belgian Beef

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to improve surveillance measures on imports of Belgian beef in order to ensure the prevention of specified risk material entering the UK.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Specified risk material, in the form of spinal cord, has been found in carcase beef imported from Belgium on two occasions, both during November 2001. The beef came from two different Belgian plants, and in each case only a small proportion of the total consignment of carcase beef was involved. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is responsible for food safety matters in the United Kingdom, informed the Belgian authorities promptly about these incidents, asking them to investigate and to notify the FSA of the action being taken to prevent a recurrence. On each occasion the FSA also notified the European Commission.
	As meat is part of the single European market, beef from another European Union member state is not subject to border inspection controls. But it is subject to checks at the meat plant of destination within the United Kingdom. In April 2001, the FSA instructed the Meat Hygiene Service to check every consignment of imported carcase beef arriving at licensed meat plants in Great Britain. Similar advice was given to local authorities, and in Northern Ireland. This policy remains current practice.

Beef Imports

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list by country the sources of beef found to have traces of specified risk material in consignments of beef imported into the UK in the past 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	In the past 12 months, traces of specified risk material have been found in consignments of beef imported into the United Kingdom from Germany (8 times), the Netherlands (5 times), Ireland (4 times), Belgium (twice), Spain (twice), Italy (once) and Denmark (once).
	The sources of the beef are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Country  Plant Date of SRM find in UK 
		
		
			 Germany Loblein Teterower Fleisch, Gustrow 17 January 2001 
			  Westfleische, Lubbecke 17 January 2001 
			  Standard Fleisch, Oldenburg 29 January 2001 
			  Fleisch-Versand Heinz Gausepohl, Bakum 1 February 2001 
			  Fleischverkaufsstelk, Kalkar 1 March 2001 
			  Mueller Fleisch, Birkenfeld 2 March 2001 
			  Fleischzentrum, Wilhelmshaven 30 March 2001 
			  Gausepohl Fleisch, Bakum 25 June 2001 
			 Netherlands Brada's Vleesbedrijft, Leewarden 1 March 2001 
			  Brada's Vleesbedrijft, Leewarden 5 March 2001 
			  Domburg Vlees, Bodegraven 7 August 2001 
			  Exspl. J Gosschalk en Zoon, Epe 21 August 2001 
			  Kroot Vlees, Tilburg 24 October 2001 
			 Ireland Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff 2 February 2001 
			  Kildare Chilling, Kildare 21 March 2001 
			  Fair Oaks (Clonmel), Clonmel 2 August 2001 
			  Fair Oaks (Carlow), Bagenalstown 10 and 11 December 2001 
			 Belgium NV EEG Slacthuis Verbist, Izegem 15 November 2001 
			  NV Dierickx, Zele 29 November 2001 
			 Spain Givesa, Palencia 7 March 2001 
			  Fribin, Binepar 9 March 2001 
			 Italy Industria Carni, Torino 20 March 2001 
			 Denmark Danish Crown, Skive 30 April 2001

WORK AND PENSIONS

Viasystems

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial support will be provided to the people of South Tyneside after the loss of jobs in Viasystems.

Nick Brown: Redundancies can have a devastating effect on local economies, especially where they occur in an area of high unemployment or the local economy is largely dependent on one industry. We are introducing the rapid response service so as to reduce the impact of large-scale redundancy on the whole community. The service offers a coherent response tailored to need and will help those affected by redundancy to make the transition to sustainable new jobs offering opportunities for progression.
	The service is already helping people who have lost their jobs at Viasystems. Following the announcement of redundancies, rapid response funding of £202,000 was secured to provide help with training and resettlement. In the light of the company being placed in receivership additional measures were introduced to provide support for the redundant workers, including a telephone helpline for information on jobs, training and benefits. Additional staff from Employment Service, South Tyneside metropolitan borough council, Learning and Skills Council, North Tyneside council and local colleges ran sessions aimed at providing advice and counselling for redundant employees. Advice sessions have been held at local community centres which were attended by over 100 people. A further event with training providers and employers was held at Jarrow jobcentre on 20 October and attended by over 70 people and redundant workers were also invited to an employment fair at the South Shields families day on 23 October.

Internet Learning and Work Bank

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost of the internet Learning and Work Bank.

Nick Brown: The Learning and Work Bank was launched as Worktrain in March 2001. Worktrain is an internet portal bringing together, for the first time, information on job vacancies, learning opportunities, occupational profiles and child care providers. The aim of the service is to make it simpler for people to look for jobs and learning opportunities, and to provide other useful information to help them make work and career decisions.
	Worktrain is a joint initiative of this Department with the Department for Education and Skills. Estimated costs for the financial year 2001–02 are £3 million.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with other Government Departments to encourage employment of new deal participants.

Nick Brown: Since new deal started, the Employment Service Large Organisation Unit have worked continuously with Government Departments and agencies on the recruitment of new dealers. They have also developed a close working relationship with the Cabinet Office to encourage employment of new dealers within Government Departments. This has resulted in:
	1. An event in March 2000 for representatives from all Government Departments to discuss ways to encourage further new deal recruitment within the civil service.
	2. The New Deal Civil Service Development Forum was established in June 2000. Thirty Departments were represented in this forum. The aim of the forum is to share best practice in new deal recruitment and to discuss any issues and concerns Departments may have.
	3. A Civil Service Gateway training provision, developed in February 2001, to address recruitment issues and further increase new deal take up within Departments.

Muslim Women

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the labour market by Muslim women.

Nick Brown: Muslim women can benefit from the range of new deals and other welfare-to-work initiatives that we have introduced to help people overcome the barriers to employment and to make work pay, such as working families tax credit, the national minimum wage, and the national child care strategy. From later this year, we will also invest in a new service in five areas of the country, to reach out to minority ethnic people who are at a disadvantage in the labour market.
	Measures are also being introduced in the current Employment Bill that will help working mothers to remain within the work force through better balancing of their work and home commitments. This is good for parents, children and business.

ONE Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the full cost of the ONE Programme will be, broken down into different stages, as it is rolled out.

Nick Brown: The ONE pilots look at a new way of delivering services, bringing together the Employment Service, Benefits Agency and local authorities into a single point of contact for clients, while putting work and helping people overcome the obstacles to work at the heart of the benefit system. The 12 pilots are all fully operational and are due to run until 2002–03.
	Expenditure on ONE for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was £68 million, including development, implementation and live running costs. Forecast expenditure for 2001–02 is £39 million. £25 million funding has been provisionally allocated for 2002–03.
	The lessons learned from the ONE pilots are being fed into the development of the Jobcentre Plus Service.

Foster Carers

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the employment status of foster carers.

Nick Brown: People who provide fostering services are not treated as being in full-time work for benefit purposes and are able to claim income support and jobseeker's allowance in the normal way. Payments received from the local authority in respect of fostering are fully disregarded in calculating entitlement to these benefits. Nor are such payments taxable if they just cover the basic cost of looking after the child. These arrangements are intended to act as incentives for people to provide this type of service.

Unemployment (Bradford)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of unemployment was of (a) white and (b) non-white people in Bradford in 2001.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table:
	
		
			   ILO unemployment Working age aILO unemployment (percentage) 
		
		
			 Overall 18,626 8.3 
			 Non-white 7,753 22.4 
			 White 10,873 5.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are for the Bradford city council area.
	2. ILO unemployment measures the number of people who are out of work, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks or who are out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks.
	3. The ILO data are extracted from the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey for 2000–01 and are the latest available.
	4. The figures for white ILO unemployment and the white ILO unemployment rate are calculated as the difference between the 'overall' and 'non-white' figures.

Expenditure (Initiatives)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 538W, on Expenditure (Initiatives), if he will specify the table number and the page number in the Department for Education and Employment departmental report 2001–02 to 2003–04 which contain details of the amount budgeted in each financial year for the planned lifetime of each initiative.

Nick Brown: The information requested is contained in table 4.2, on pages 28–29 of the report.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

National Sports Museum

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will establish a national sports museum; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government have no plans to establish or fund a national museum of sport. My Department has previously received representations from organisations seeking to establish privately funded sport museums. The establishment and funding of such museums is a matter for those organisations.

Small Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Chairman of English Heritage about his organisation's role in the regeneration of small towns; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Ministers have regular discussion with the Chairman of English Heritage about the work of his organisation. The Government's recent statement "The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future" confirmed regeneration activity as an important part of English Heritage's remit, particularly through its Conservation Area Partnerships and Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes. Some 60 per cent. of the £35 million offered by English Heritage each year for conservation work is targeted at regeneration schemes, and many of these are in smaller towns. Of the 188 HERS schemes currently running, around 50 per cent. are in smaller towns.

Social Exclusion

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many competitive grant schemes administered by his Department and its agencies were open in each of the last 10 years to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the administrative cost to the (a) state, (b) unsuccessful applicants and (c) successful applicants of the competitive grant schemes, provided by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(3)  if she will list the competitive grant scheme, administered by her Department and its agencies, open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; and, for each scheme in each year (a) the number of applicants, (b) the number of successful applicants, (c) the total of grants awarded, (d) the number of pages in the application form and (e) if the grant can be used to fund the core costs of the applicant organisations;
	(4)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(5)  if she will publish a list of the grants made under the competitive grant schemes administered by the Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion.

Kim Howells: holding answer 12 December 2001
	The Home Office has lead policy responsibility for the Government's relationship with the voluntary and community sector. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), on 19 December 2001 Official Report, column 482.

National Stadium

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the merits of the process by which proposals for a new national stadium will be considered;
	(2)  what representations the Football Association has made with regard to the review of the national stadium proposals; and what account has been taken of them;
	(3)  if the Coventry bid for the national stadium remains part of the Task Force Review.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 19 December 2001
	I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 291–93. Copies of Patrick Carter's English National Stadium Review Interim Report were laid before the House on the same date.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which rail investment projects of over £10 million have been (a) agreed and (b) contracted since Railtrack went into administration.

John Spellar: holding answer 10 December 2001
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 389W.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total funding is drawn down by the Railtrack administrator under section 2.1 of the commercial loan agreement.

David Jamieson: The total is £847,746,792.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the working capital facility in section 2.2 of the Railtrack commercial loan agreement has been drawn down.

David Jamieson: None.

Railways

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when (a) the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, (b) the CEO of the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Chairman of Railtrack and (d) the Rail Regulator were appointed.

John Spellar: The Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was appointed on 1 December 2001. In accordance with the Transport Act 2000 the Franchising Director (who was appointed on 1 May 1999) was appointed as the Chief Executive of the SRA on 1 February 2001. He left the post on 17 December 2001. The Rail Regulator was appointed on 5 July 1999. The appointment of a Chairman of Railtrack is a matter for the company.

Railway Investment

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much, in cash and real terms, was invested in (a) track and signalling capital projects and (b) other capital projects in the railway industry each year from 1998–99; and of each, how much was met from public funds.

David Jamieson: Investment in the rail industry between 1998–99 and 2000–01 is shown in the table.
	
		£ million 
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Rolling stock 176 236 554 
			 Track and signalling 1,012 1,315 2,126 
			 Other 811 697 278 
			  
			 Total 1,999 2,248 2,958 
			 
			 Total(1) (2000–01 prices) 2,090 2,303 2,958 
		
	
	Although rail investment in these years is almost wholly undertaken by the private sector, its finance is indirectly supported by Government support payments to the rail industry channelled through the franchised train operating companies. It is not possible to provide an estimate of the proportion of investment supported by public subsidy.

PPP (Transport Projects)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's answer of 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 889W, on capital assets, if he will place in the Library information on the accounting treatment of the public private partnership projects relating to (a) British Dartford Thurrock Crossing, (b) Second Severn Crossing, (c) Birmingham North Relief Road, (d) Midland Metro, (e) Northern Line Trains, (f) A69, (g) A50, (h) A19, (i) A417/419, (j) M40, (k) A30/35, (l) A1(M), (m) Manchester Metrolink, (n) Docklands Light Railway Extensions, (o) Croydon Tramlink and (p) M1/A1 Link Road; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Company Credit Rating

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has drawn up contingency plans for the company limited by guarantee if it fails to achieve a credit rating of A/A2; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: It is for the administrator to put a proposal for a transfer scheme before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, based on any propositions he receives. The administrator and all potential bidders will need to take account of the guidelines issued in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 31 October 2001, Official Report, columns 669–71W. The guidelines specify, among other things, that potential bidders should be able to demonstrate that their proposed successor company will have a sufficiently high investment grade credit rating to raise the necessary finance for its activities.

Council Housing

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely rent levels for local authority tenants in each Greater London borough following the proposed rent re-structuring.

Sally Keeble: Individual local authorities retain responsibility for rent setting. Rents following restructuring will depend, among other things, on the outcome of future spending reviews.

Council Housing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he issues on who is given priority for council housing; and what priority is given to the homeless when they apply.

Sally Keeble: Section 167(2) of the Housing Act 1996 requires that, in framing its allocation scheme, an authority shall ensure that reasonable preference is given to certain categories of persons. These are:
	(a) People occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living in unsatisfactory housing conditions
	(b) People occupying housing accommodation which is temporary of occupied on insecure terms
	(c) Families with dependent children
	(d) Households consisting of or including someone who is expecting a child
	(e) Households consisting of or including someone with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds
	(f) Households whose social or economic circumstances are such that they have difficulty in securing settled accommodation; and
	(g) Households who are, or have been, owed a main homelessness duty (ie people found to be unintentionally homeless and in priority need).
	Section 167 also requires that additional preference be given to households consisting of or including someone with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds who cannot reasonably be expected to find settled accommodation for themselves in the foreseeable future.
	The Code of Guidance on Allocations and Homelessness, issued in 1996, gives guidance on how local authorities should discharge their functions under Parts 6 (allocations) and 7 (homelessness) of the Housing Act 1996. The code makes clear that it is for each authority to consider how to reflect the categories set out in s.167(2) in their allocations scheme, although generally they should ensure that greater preference is given to the more severe cases of need.
	The Homelessness Bill will amend the reasonable preference categories. However, households who are owed a main homelessness duty will continue to be given priority for housing under the new provisions. We will be issuing a revised Code of Guidance to accompany the changes to the legislation.

Civil Service Code

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The procedures for making complaints under the Civil Service Code are set out in the Department's staff handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code with their line manager. If, for any reason, this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to a nominated official. It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the Civil Service Code which are resolved within the management line.

Council Tenants

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the legal status is of offer documents sent to council tenants prior to a ballot on stock transfer; and if plans within such documents are binding on new landlords.

Sally Keeble: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 9 January 2002, Official Report, columns 848–49W.

Waverley Rail Route

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) Scottish Ministers regarding the re-opening of the Waverley rail route from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

David Jamieson: There have been no recent discussions. Last year Scottish Borders council announced that a detailed application for formal consent to construct the railway is likely to be lodged with the Scottish Parliament by March 2003. If work goes to schedule and plans are approved the railway could be re-opened in 2008.

Rail Capacity Study

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in the conduct of a rail capacity study for East-Central Scotland, with particular reference to services to and from England.

David Jamieson: There are currently two reviews in progress. One study has been commissioned by the Scottish Executive to aid them in deciding upon their strategic priorities. The study consist of two phases, the first part of which reported in September last year and the main second phase which is due to report in May 2002. The Strategic Rail Authority has also commissioned Railtrack to undertake a study, also in two phases. The first part has recently been completed, the second phase has yet to commence.

Tolls

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been received in tolls on the Second Severn Crossing in each year of its existence.

David Jamieson: The Second Severn Crossing opened in 1996. However, the concession for the crossing was granted in 1992, at which time the Concessionaire (Severn River Crossing plc) were able to use revenue from the existing crossing to partly finance the construction of the new crossing.
	Listed is the toll revenue received since 1992. Up to 1996 the figure is for the first Crossing only, after that date the figure is for the two bridges combined. Separate figures for the two bridges is not immediately available.
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 1992 21,990,895 
			 1993 34,365,696 
			 1994 39,196,924 
			 1995 43,773,796 
			 1996 47,154,568 
			 1997 51,112,112 
			 1998 55,240,910 
			 1999 59,831,779 
			 2000 60,995,760 
		
	
	The final figure for toll revenue for 2001 is not currently available.

Tolls

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which major (a) bridge, (b) tunnel and (c) trunk road tolls (i) can and (ii) cannot be paid by credit or debit card.

David Jamieson: Of the major tolled bridges and tunnels (there are currently no major tolled trunk roads open) only the Tyne Tunnel accepts payment by credit or debit card. All of the undertakings (Dartford Crossings, Humber Bridge, Mersey Tunnels, Severn Crossings, Tamar Bridge and Tyne Tunnel) have a system for pre-payment for which payment by credit or debit card is available.

Tolls

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what provision exists for tolls for the Second Severn Crossing to be paid in euro.

David Jamieson: The Concessionaire (Severn River Crossing plc) is already prepared to accept payment for tolls in euros.

Tolls

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to allow drivers on the Severn Crossing to pay tolls with credit and debit cards.

David Jamieson: There are no plans at present to allow credit card payments due to the fact that finance companies levy about a 3 per cent. surcharge for such transactions. Neither the Concessionaire (Severn River Crossing plc) nor the Government are currently prepared to fund this surcharge. However, the Concessionaire and the Government will continue to review this position.

Second Severn Crossing

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the outstanding debt is on the Second Severn Crossing; and if it will be repaid.

David Jamieson: The outstanding debt on the crossing stands at £469,606,000 as at 2000 accounts. It is intended that the whole of this debt will be paid by the end of the concession period, likely to be about mid 2014.

Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress his Department's review of Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations has made.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions intends to carry out a public consultation shortly on proposals to update the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 to relax certain provisions and to align others with requirements already in force under European Community law.

Planning Appeals (Listed Buildings)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many appeals affecting listed buildings have been (a) upheld and (b) dismissed in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Bob Russell, dated 11 January 2002
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about planning appeals affecting listed buildings over the last five years.
	The information requested is as follows.
	
		Appeals with listed building issues
		
			  Allowed Dismissed 
		
		
			 Planning   
			 1997 570 1,227 
			 1998 583 1,185 
			 1999 542 1,186 
			 2000 454 1,091 
			 2001 592 1,284 
			
			 Enforcement   
			 1997 49 193 
			 1998 108 160 
			 1999 116 114 
			 2000 62 175 
			 2001 50 135 
		
	
	
		Listed building appeals
		
			  Allowed Dismissed 
		
		
			 Consent   
			 1997 266 549 
			 1998 202 437 
			 1999 143 319 
			 2000 176 385 
			 2001 164 363 
			
			 Enforcement   
			 1997 44 126 
			 1998 49 112 
			 1999 86 62 
			 2000 50 79 
			 2001 18 61

Renewable Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to revise PPG22 to take account of Government targets for renewable energy generation.

Sally Keeble: It is already our policy to promote a positive approach to planning for renewable energy to help meet the Government's targets for producing electricity from renewable sources. In 2000 we initiated the preparation of regional assessments and targets for renewable energy provision to encourage a more strategic approach to planning at regional and local levels.
	We intend to review the existing planning policy guidance note of renewable energy (PPG 22) as soon as practicable.

Vehicle Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the use of fuel economy labels to help introduce less polluting and more fuel efficient vehicles.

David Jamieson: Provision of information to consumers on the fuel economy and CO 2 emissions performance of passenger cars is an important element of the Government's policy for reducing CO 2 emissions. Provision of fuel economy labels on new passenger cars and of general information on fuel economy at the point of sale has been a requirement under UK law since the mid 1980's. From 21 November 2001 the UK implemented a new EU directive which, besides making changes to the format and content of information to be provided on cars at point of sale, also requires CO 2 emissions to be displayed.
	Comparative figures on the fuel and emissions performance of all models of new passenger cars are available on the Vehicle Certification Agency's website at www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk and in "The New Car Fuel Consumption and Emissions Figures" booklet published by VCA.

Bus Safety

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent research his Department has carried out into safety considerations concerning passengers standing in buses; and what discussions he has had with bus and coach operators on the subject of the safety concerns of passengers standing in those vehicles.

Sally Keeble: My Department is currently looking into the issue of standing passengers. We are participating in a research project under the European Community 5th Framework Project—Enhanced Coach and Bus Occupant Safety (ECBOS), which is looking at all safety issues that effect bus passengers. This includes seated and standing passengers, provisions of internal fittings, handholds, steps and gangway slopes inside the vehicle. The findings of this work will be used to influence any future regulatory changes in this area.

Older Population

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what estimates have been made of the resident elderly population of Somerset county council area in each financial year from 1997–98 to 2002–03;
	(2)  what information he has collated on the numbers of retired people of pensionable age (a) living in and (b) living away from their home area who enter supported residential care;
	(3)  what estimates have been made of the number of (a) elderly supported residents and (b) elderly people living in private households in Somerset county council area in each financial year from 1997–98 to 2002–03.

Alan Whitehead: The following table provides the information requested.
	
		(a) Elderly supported residents in residential and nursing care on:
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 1,993 
			 31 March 1998 2,174 
			 31 March 1999 2,211 
			 31 March 2000 2,092 
			 31 March 2001 2,455 
		
	
	
		(b) Elderly population:
		
			   (i) total residents (ii) residents in private households 
		
		
			 Mid 1997 93,851 88,954 
			 Mid 1998 94,657 89,718 
			 Mid 1999 95,242 90,272 
			 Mid 2000 95,945 90,939 
		
	
	Source:
	(a) Department of Health statistical return SRI
	(b)(i) ONS mid year population estimates; (ii) ONS mid year population estimates adjusted by the proportion of total residents that are in private households as recorded in the 1991 Census
	In the case of population data, the estimates for 2000 are the latest available, and are used in the 2002–03 local government finance settlement. The number of residents in private households is estimated in the same way as for the standard spending assessment formula for elderly residential social services, by assuming that the proportion of total residents in private households is the same as that recorded in the 1991 Census. The figures for the number of supported residents are the actual numbers reported by authorities to the Department of Health rather than estimates. The figure for March 2001 is the latest available. As part of the same data return, the Department of Health collects information on the numbers of supported residents that each local authority is supporting outside their own local authority area. The information can be broken down by age, so those of pensionable age could be specifically identified.

Older Population

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  for what reason the standard spending assessments for 2002–03 were not calculated by reference to the total elderly residential population in each local authority area; what plans his Department has to revise the method of calculation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps his Department plans to take to develop a single standard spending assessment distribution formula that covers the residential and domiciliary care of elderly people;
	(3)  how the formula to estimate the number of elderly supported residents in local authority areas has operated in each financial year between 1997–98 and 2002–03; what assessment he has made of its effectiveness for (a) England, (b) London boroughs, (c) Shire counties and (d) Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The methodology underpinning the standard spending assessment (SSA) formulae has been unchanged since 1999–2000. The formula for residential services was changed in 1999–2000 so that it is based on the elderly population in private households (prior to this it was based on the total resident population). The population in private households excludes the population that is already in institutional care. Some residents that are in residential care in each authority area are funded by other authorities. If they were included in the formula, they would count towards the authority in which they are placed, even though another authority is bearing the cost.
	Other arguments that have been made in favour of the change are that the research on which the formula is based considered the characteristics of those in private households about to enter care (and not those already in care), and that the formula should therefore be on the same basis. The number of people in residential care in an authority is also partly dependent on local policy variation, and an objective formula should not reflect this.
	In estimating the relative number of potential supported residents in each area, the formula gives more weight to elderly people aged 85 plus and aged 75–84 than those aged 65–74. The formula also takes account of differences in deprivation between areas. The following indicators have been used since 1998–99:
	Elderly on income support
	Pensioners in rented accommodation
	Pensioners living alone
	Elderly with limiting long-term illness
	Elderly on attendance allowance or disability living allowance
	Pensioners not in a couple and not a head of household.
	In 1997–98 the formula only used indicators of rented accommodation, limiting long-term illness, and a measure of independent sector provision.
	The White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" sets out our assessment of the effectiveness of the SSA system. Our assessment focuses on systemic weakness that apply to all authorities rather than issues for individual authorities or groupings of authorities. We have concluded that there are significant limitations, including complexity and the use of SSAs as a measure of "spending need". That is why we have decided to replace SSAs with a new formula-based approach that will be fairer and more intelligible. These new formulae will take effect in 2003–04. We are actively working with local government to develop the new system, and a number of research projects have been set in hand in order to inform the work. This includes a project commissioned by the Department of Health from the University of Kent in order to look at the possibility of a single formula for elderly domiciliary and residential care. This work is still at the early stages and we have yet to take a view on the best way forward. We will be consulting widely before taking final decisions.

Older Population

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what resources were allocated, per head, to meet the needs of the elderly population in each local authority area in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Alan Whitehead: DTLR allocates grant to local authorities based on the standard spending assessment (SSA) formulae. There are two SSA formulae focused on the needs of elderly people: the formula for elderly residential and the formula for domiciliary social services. Details of each authority's elderly domiciliary and residential SSA per person aged over 65 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The figures are for the provisional local government finance settlement for 2002–04.
	There are other services provided by local government to elderly people, including cultural and leisure services. These other formulae are based on figures for the population as a whole, and it is not possible to identify an element specific to the elderly without making crude assumptions.
	It should be noted that the SSAs are not equal to the actual level of grant provided to local authorities by central Government. This is a lower figure that recognises authorities ability to raise resources through council tax and their share of national non-domestic rates. The actual level of general grant support provided for individual services is not identified, and is a matter for individual authorities to decide.

Shoreham Trust Port Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he has not appointed any board members to Shoreham Trust Port Authority since their terms expired on 31 December 2001; and when he expects to do so.

David Jamieson: We are currently considering candidates for these appointments and expect to be able to announce the outcome shortly.

South East Regional Air Services Study

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what preliminary findings from the South East Regional Air Services Study will be made available to county councils in the region in time for them to be taken into account when producing their drafts for county structure plans.

David Jamieson: During the study, we are not going to make any comment on the options under consideration—that would be premature, would spread unnecessary concern and blight and would undermine the consultation process.
	We expect the study to be completed shortly. This will be followed by full public consultation on the short-listed options, currently scheduled for spring 2002. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into an Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of the year.
	The West Sussex structure plan 2001–2016, currently on deposit, makes clear that the Structure Plan will not be able to take account of the SERAS study outcomes.

South East Regional Air Services Study

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he anticipates the completion of the South East Regional Air Services Study; if its findings will be published in full; and how it will be made available to the public.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study (SERAS) is nearing completion. This will be followed by full public consultation on the short-listed options for airport development.
	During the consultation period, we intend to make the study findings accessible to the public in hard copy and on CD.

Traffic Management

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of measures of traffic congestion; and which measure his Department uses for the purposes of assessing the cost and benefit of road construction and traffic management schemes.

David Jamieson: As part of the assessment of the costs and benefits of road schemes, an estimate is made of the expected change in journey times as a result of the scheme, compared with a forecast without the scheme. Money values are attributed to those changes in journey times.
	In making an overall assessment of the merits of road proposals, this measure of congestion relief is considered alongside other impacts including environmental and safety ones and compared with the capital and maintenance costs of the scheme. In addition, a measure of the total vehicle hours saved is used to assess that scheme's contribution to the Department's target for congestion.

Transport (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the targets agreed by the Isle of Wight Council for the delivery of transport services upon which his specific grant or borrowing permission is contingent; and what steps he takes to monitor the advertisement of those targets.

Sally Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today. [PQ 26665].

Highways (Southern England)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the targets agreed between his Department and highway authorities in the geographical counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Sussex for the delivery of highways and transport services, identifying those on which his specific grant or borrowing permission is contingent.

Sally Keeble: Our guidance to authorities on Local Transport Plans (LTPs) made clear that plans must include a set of indicators for measuring performance against targets and other outputs which can be used to assess whether the LTP is delivering its stated objectives. Local authorities determine the precise package of indicators and targets which best reflect their local circumstances and although such indicators are not formally agreed by the Department they should reflect relevant national targets where they exist. Authorities are required to provide annual progress reports (APRs) in which to report on how their LTPs are being implemented and the progress in working towards the locally established objectives, national and local targets and other outputs.
	The allocation of capital resources is determined through an assessment of the LTPs and APRs which authorities submitted. We announced initial capital allocations for the implementation of the first five year LTPs in December 2000 and firm allocations for 2002–03 were announced last December.
	Section 109(4) of the Transport Act 2000 placed a statutory requirement upon local transport authorities as to the publication of local transport plans and bus strategies. They are required to make them available for inspection, give notice for bringing them to the attention of the public and to make copies available on request at not more than cost. It is for local transport authorities to ensure that they meet their statutory requirements in this regard.
	Given the volume of data requested I will write to the hon. Member with details of the indicators and targets for the local highway authorities concerned and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Highways (Southern England)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 236W, whether West Quay road, Southampton, is a trunk road.

David Jamieson: West Quay road in Southampton forms part of the A3057, which is not a trunk road.

A Roads (Taunton)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has, as part of the London to South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Transport Study, to analyse the costs and benefits of a non-road dualling multi-modal option, including local traffic safety measures, to address traffic safety and congestion issues on the A30/A303 and on the A358 to Taunton; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: As part of their work, the consultants carrying out the London to South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Transport Study (SWARMMS) are addressing various issues associated with the environment, safety, the economy, accessibility and integration in relation to the A30/A303 corridor and the A358 between the A303 and the M5. A number of different options to provide solutions are being considered and non-road dualling and local safety measures are included. The consultants' recommendations are expected by the end of April and the costs and benefits of the various approaches will be clearly laid out in their report.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost was (a) to Government and (b) to other parties of introducing the new vehicle registration system.

David Jamieson: The total cost to Government of the new registration system, including running costs to year 2011, is forecast at £2,383,000. The exact costs to other parties are not known. Estimated compliance costs are published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, a copy of which is lodged in the Libraries of the House.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many vehicles were registered with DL registrations in (a) the last year and (b) the last 10 years of the old vehicle registration system.

David Jamieson: The number of vehicles newly registered each year with DL suffixes between 1991 and 2001 is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1991 3,733 
			 1992 3,765 
			 1993 2,982 
			 1994 2,786 
			 1995 2,807 
			 1996 2,914 
			 1997 4,651 
			 1998 9,359 
			 1999 4,695 
			 2000 4,990 
			 2001 (1)3,463 
		
	
	(1) Up to the end of August

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many vehicles were registered in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland in (i) the last year and (ii) the last 10 years of the old vehicle registration system.

David Jamieson: The following table shows the number of newly registered vehicles in each year between 1991 and 2000 and also for 2001 where figures are currently available.
	
		Registrations of new vehicles -- Thousand
		
			 Year  Great Britain Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1991 1,922 79 
			 1992 1,902 78 
			 1993 2,074 83 
			 1994 2,249 91 
			 1995 2,307 97 
			 1996 2,410 104 
			 1997 2,598 112 
			 1998 2,740 121 
			 1999 2,766 122 
			 2000 2,871 120 
			 2001 (2)2,968 (3)70 
		
	
	(2) First 11 months
	(3) First six months

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Means Tests

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if, pursuant to her reply of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 960W, she will list each financial means test applied under education legislation.

Margaret Hodge: We apply means tests, either directly or indirectly, for the following educational purposes:
	Schools—free school meals (and free milk where available); remission of charges for board and lodging payments on residential school trips; assisted places scheme; music and dance scheme
	Post-compulsory Education—education maintenance allowances; learner support funds which are made up of: access funds, child care support funds, residential bursaries; dance and drama awards
	Higher Education—student support including: grants towards tuition fees, student loans, including hardship loans; additional grants for students with dependants, including dependants grants, school meals grants and child care grants; hardship funds and bursaries, including opportunity bursaries and access bursaries; loans, hardship funds and fee remission for part-time students.

Sixth Forms

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schools in the London borough of Wandsworth which have a sixth form.

Ivan Lewis: There are seven maintained secondary schools in the London borough of Wandsworth which have a sixth form, as follows:
	Ernest Bevin College
	Chestnut Grove School
	Battersea Technology College
	Graveney School
	Burntwood School
	Elliot School
	Southfields Community College.

Healthwise Education Packs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she recommends (a) The Primary Schools Drugs Education Pack, (b) Taking Drugs Seriously, (c) Taking Sex Seriously and (d) The Primary Schools Sex and Relationships Education Pack published by Healthwise for use in schools and by school teachers.

Ivan Lewis: No. The Department for Education and Skills does not recommend or endorse individual resources. It is for schools to decide which resources are most appropriate to meet the needs of their pupils, in support of a school's personal, social and health education programme. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 places a statutory responsibility on head teachers and governors in devising a school's sex education policy to protect their pupils from inappropriate teaching and materials.

Social Exclusion

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the administrative cost to the (a) state, (b) unsuccessful applicants and (c) successful applicants of the competitive grant schemes, provided by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(2)  Skills if she will publish a list of the grants made under the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(3)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(4)  how many different competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies were open in each of the last 10 years to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion;
	(5)  if she will list the competitive grant schemes, administered by the Department and its agencies, open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion and, for each scheme in each year (a) the number of applicants, (b) the number of successful applicants, (c) the total of grants awarded, (d) the number of pages in the application form and (e) if the grant can be used to fund the core costs of the applicant organisation.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 12 December 2002
	The information is not currently collected by my Department in the form requested. I am placing in the Library of the House copies of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes that are available.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the circumstances of a joint patrol involving Afghan security forces and British troops, the latter would be in on-the-spot command, in the event of hostile action.

Geoff Hoon: Under the terms of the agreement between the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Interim Administration, the ISAF will conduct joint patrols for liaison and familiarisation purposes but also as part of a broad objective of providing reassurance to the local population. The ISAF will also conduct independent patrols.
	In patrolling together, the ISAF and Afghan Interim Administration forces will not be under joint command. The unified Command and Control arrangements under Major General McColl are clear and these will provide ISAF forces with sufficient scope to react appropriately to any attack on them. The ISAF has robust Rules of Engagement which are appropriate to its mission.
	These Rules of Engagement are in accordance with international and domestic law.

Afghanistan

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many troops he plans to deploy in Afghanistan; and when their deployment will be complete;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the timetable for troop deployment in Afghanistan.

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the UK element of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to be fully deployed.

Geoff Hoon: The United Kingdom's contribution to the ISAF in Kabul will total up to 1,800 personnel. In addition and in the short term, we are deploying nearly 300 Army and Royal Air Force personnel to help repair Kabul International airport. This will help us in re-supplying the ISAF and will be of lasting benefit for the Afghan people.
	I expect the UK element of the ISAF to be fully deployed by mid-February.

Afghanistan

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he has requested from the US to aid the deployment of ground troops in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: Assuming that the hon. Member is referring to the deployment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United States agreed to our request for practical support for the deployment of the ISAF and they have established a liaison team at the headquarters of the force. I am withholding further details under section 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Afghanistan

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK forces will be deployed in Afghanistan by Friday 11 January; and what the full UK deployment will comprise.

Geoff Hoon: As of 11 January, UK forces deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan will comprise elements of Headquarters 3 Division and Headquarters 16 Air Assault Brigade, D Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment plus logistic, communications and other enablers.
	On current plans, the full UK contribution to the ISAF will comprise up to 1,800 personnel, which in addition to the units already deployed will include the balance of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, engineer units plus other logistic enablers.
	We will also deploy sufficient personnel to activate and operate Kabul International airport.

Pensions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enlisted personnel have retired on a full pension in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Information on the number of personnel retiring on full pension, that is those payable on completion of 37 years service, is not identified separately and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

C130 Hercules

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many C130 Ks and how many C130 Js are equipped with a full Defensive Aids suite; when he plans to equip the balance of the fleet; and how many C130 Ks and C130 Js are adopted for special forces roles.

Lewis Moonie: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Rapid Reaction Mechanisms

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to (a) OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) requirements for rapid expert assistance and co-operation teams and (b) EU requirements for a rapid reaction mechanism for civil crisis management.

Peter Hain: I have been asked to reply.
	HMG strongly support the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its missions, and has responded promptly and substantially to the Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT) programme rolled out in April 2001.
	The Government support the EU's Rapid Reaction Mechanism which allows for rapid intervention from the European community's budget in situations of emerging or actual crisis.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Carabiner

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the business contracted out by his Department to Carabiner since May 1997.

Peter Hain: Since May 1997 the Department has awarded major contracts for the provision of event production services to Carabiner for the following events:
	1. The G8 Birmingham Summit from 15–17 May 1998.
	2. The European Council in Cardiff from 15–16 June 1998.
	Carabiner were also involved in one event for the Your Britain, Your Europe campaign.
	The event production contracts do not include the "contracting out" of services normally performed "in-house" by the FCO.

Gibraltar

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 312W.

Balkan War Crimes

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects those indicted for war crimes in the Balkans to be transferred to the Hague Tribunal.

Denis MacShane: According to official figures from the Tribunal (ICTY), of those indictees currently in The Hague, 10, including Slobodan Milosevic, have been arrested and transferred by governments and 15 have surrendered voluntarily. In addition, 18 individuals who were the subject of the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR)'s 26 operations to date (14 of which have involved British troops) remain in detention.
	Full co-operation with the ICTY is an international obligation. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised this issue directly with FRY President Kostunica and Croatian President Mesic during official visits to London in late 2001, and we have also discussed it with the political leaders of Bosnia. We have made it clear that the transfer of all remaining indictees, including Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Aute Gotovina must be accelerated in 2002.